Fuse for projectiles.



- PATENTED SEPT-l3, 1904.

H. P. MERRIAM. FUSE FOR PROJEOTILBS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1902. RENEWED JULY 16, 1904.

NO MODEL.

g of which the following is are. 770,183.

amines. $eptember 13, 190i.

H NRY l Mhnannu, or new roan, N. Y.

eraomeearon turning-part of'llletters r Application min July'lil, 1902. Renewed July 16, 1904. Eeriul lie. 216,778-

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY P. Museum, a citizen of the United States residing in the borough oi? l /lanhattan 'n the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Fuses for Projectiles,

a specification.

The present invention, which relates to improvements in percussion-fuses for projectiles, has her its'bbjct' the prevention of the premature functioning of the fuse andthe thereby caused explosion of the shell during the flight? of the shell and up to the time of impact or"; the shell ripen the target. I

' In the ty e of projectile-fuses in which the distonatin'gammer is released or armed in the fuse-casing by the shock caused-by the firing of the projectile from the gun or by the centrifugal force developed by the rapidi otation of the shell during its flight some dificulty has been experienced in'efl'ectually delayingthe explosion oi theshell until the shell has struck the target. In the normal action of fuses of this type the explosion of the shell after firing is efiected by the forward or, in special designs also, by the sidewise displacement of the hammer, (whichhas been released'or armed in the fuse-casing and is held only by ment of the hammer inertiaor a light spring in its central rear-- ward position therein,)fsaid forward or side wise displacement of the hammer causing the hammer or the firing-pin to detonate theprimer. This sidewise or forward displaceis produced when. the shell operates properly by the impact of the shell either endwise or sidewise against the target? On account of mechanical imperfections, oweverf, which must necessarily be considere there is lack of rcoincidence between 1 the aegis of rotation of the shell and the center of gr ity of the hammer, with the result that the equilibrium of the hammer in the fusecasing' is disturbed and the hammer is displaced more or loss in its casing laterally-and forwardly} if the displacement is suficient to force'l the hammer forward with .suiiicient force, as is frequently the case, the primer will be detonated and the shell exploded during the flight of the shell and before it reachesthe target.

arms or weights acting upon the hammer aten't no. 770,183; dated September 13, 1904.,

(No model.)

The present invention consists in providing means for automatically retaining the hammer in its central rearward position in the fusecasing during the flight of the projectile and up to the time of impac {on the target. The means for accomplishing this result comprise centriiugally operated "retaining arms or weights. Any disturbing or displacing force which acts upon the freely-supported hammer during the flight of the shell is proportional to the square of the velocity of rotation of the shell, and the correcting forcethat is, the force of the centrifugally-operated retaining being also proportional tothe square of velocity of rotation of the shell is proportional to the disturbing force and with suitably-proportioned arms or weights can be made to at all times exceed the disturbing force. It is possible to correct this disturbing tendency entirely by the use of springs adjusted to the conditions contemplated; but springs are obectionable for many reasons, but principally because their constant elasticity cannot be depended upon,and this mcthod, moreover, would not be applicable to a fuse adapted to widelydifierent sizes of shell without sacrificing the sensitiveness required in the larger and slower rotating shells, while guarding sufiiciently against premature explosion in the smaller shells. I

It is of considerable importance that the number of different sizes and types of fuses covering the various-sized shells be made as few as possible, and with this in view a-mediumsized fuse mnst'have for service in the largest shells the maximum sensitiveness, represented by a very sensitive primer. acted upon by a hammer whose force at impact is as little as possible retarded by friction or a retainingspring. For-the smaller shells the extreme sensitiveness of primer is not necessary; but here it is necessary to guard the hammer against forward movement by a greater re .taining force, which were it applied in the assets the lai-g e'shell wouldinterfere with thesensitivenessthere required. Asthe'range 0t action whichfit is sought to cover in this form of fuse would vary from a shell rotating perhaps one thousand turns per minute to one rotating fifteen thousand turns per minute, the,

centrifugal force has a range of from one to two hundred and twenty-fivez'. 6., in the ratios of the squares. While this force is considerable at the higher rotation, it is also small at the lower rotation, and for large shells at the lower limit it is possible that the centrifugal force may need to be supplemented by springs acting in conjunction with the centrifugal arms or weights. It is obvious that the springs and centrifugal arms or weights can be arranged singly or in multiple, as the case may require. These arms or weights may be arranged to act directlyupon the hammer to retain it in its rearward or inactive position during the flight of the shell, or they may act through the medium of springs, in which case they will simply tend to increase the tension of the springs, and

in this latter case the limit of the maximum force with which the hammer is restrained can be determined by the limit of travel permitted I It is thus.

to the retaining arms or weights. possible by combining .the centrifugal force of the arms or weights adjusted for any determined maximum limit with supplemental springs which would increase the retaining force more efi'ectively at the slowe rotation to get any adjustment of retaining o rces tiesired, all varying with the character of service under which the fuse happened to'be used.

There are numerous forms in which this invention may be worked out; but the principle involved is the same in all cases, and it is that which I wish to cover broadly in my present case.-

As illustrating two forms of projectile-fuses to which the present invention may be applied I would refer to my Patent No. 630,622, granted August 8, 1899, and my pending application, originally filed March 30, 1901, renewed January 4, 1902, renewal Serie No. 88,444.'

I have'illustrated my present invention as applied to the form of fuse covered by my renewal application, renewal Serial No. 88,444;

but I do not limit myself to this application of the invention, but desire to claim the in vention in a broad sense without reference to the form of fuse to which it is applied.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, 1 will first describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings and afterward point out the novelty more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a fuse embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of the same, taken on the line a (6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of my invention. Fig. 4 is an inside end elevation'of the fusehead as it appears when removed from the hammer-supporting or main portion of the v fuse-body. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View illustrating one of the centrifugally-operatedarms or weights of the form shown in F g.3.

Figs. 6 and? are detail views similar to Fig. 1. showing further modifications of my invention.

My present improvement infuses is applicable to any form of percussion-fuse in w ich thedetonating-hammer is released in the insecasing at the time of firing the shell from the gun or during the flight of the shell, whether the fuse be designed for a point-fuse or a base-fuse. In the drawings the invention is shown as applied to a base-fuse.

1 is the body of the fuse, externally threaded at 2 for screwing into a shell.

3 is thehead of the fuse,carrying the primer,

firing-pin, and the centrifugally-operated controlling devices.

The body -1-is formed withia cavity ,5, having a seat or recess 6, in which normally rests the ball-shaped hammer 7.

The head 3 is formed with a central longitudinal cavity 10, in which is movabl y mounted 'the combined firing-pin and hammer-securing .pin 11.

This firing and hammer-securing pin 11 is formed with an annular shoulder 12, with which engage the in nershouldered ends of the radially-movable bolts or pistons 15, which are supported in the sockets 16, radiating from the central recess or passage 10. The bolts or pistons 15 fit snugly together at their inner" end and have an opening 17 formed through their adjacent end walls for the passage of the reduced portion of the firing and. securing pin 11. Projecting from each bolt or piston 15 is a pin or rod 18, which extends from the bolt or piston at an angle of thirty degrees to its longitudinal axis and fits and slides in a socket 19, formed in an adjacent bolt or piston and extending at an angle of thirty degrees to the longitudinal axis of its bolt or piston. Each bolt or piston 15 of the series of three has a pin or rod projecting from it and secured to it,as desc'nibed', and iach bolt or piston is also formed with an singularly-extending socket 19, into which one of the pins or rods projects, as described. Lateral, cuts or recesses 20 are formed in the wall of the central opening 10 of fuse-head 3 to permit the lateral movement of the pins or rods 18 when the-bolts or pistons move outwardly simultaneously. It will be clear that any movement of one of the bolts or pistons individually will be resisted by the pins 18, connecting said piston with the other two pistons. When, however, the bolts or pistons move simultaneously under the centrifugal force of the rapidly-revolving shell, it will be observed that the movement of the bolts or pistons at an angle to each other Wlll allow for the lateral movement of the connected pins or rods, and the bolts or pistons will therefore move freelyin their sockets to release the hammer-securing pin 12. This construction .and its operationar'e"fully explained and claimed in my above-named application, renewal SerialNo. 88,444. I

Mounted in the upper end of the central The end of the primer Z5 rests just-above the a into and ignite a small magazine or powder the centriingally-operated bolts or pistons I and securing pin: 11 irn'inediatelyatter'the' by those skilled inthe art that when the powthe cap 28'will be blown 05d 1,

.above referred to, thereby subjecting the shell fuse-head 3 at an angle to its longitudinal axis.

opening or socket 10 is the primer 25,,which is {of course supported on the usual anvil.

pointed end of the firing-pin, so as to\ effectively detonated whenthe firing-pin is forced against it. The priiner is arranged to flash 26, contained in the recess 2,7,formedinthe end. bf the fuse-head 3, sweep of thin sheet metal 28 covering the recess 27 for retaining the powder therein. It will be hnderstood der 26 is ignited and the fire therefrom transmitted to the bursting charge of the shell.

With this form; of fuse is win-t nets that will be moved od-twardly to release the firingl shell has an the gun; The-"firing-pin will then be free to move: forwardly in the fusehead and the'hammer will freed tothe ob-'- jectionable disturbing or displacing -torce to the danger of a premature explosion, My present invention obviates this danger, as abovepointed out, in the manner which i will now describe.

Referring nowtoFigs. 1 and2of thed rawings, is a socket or recess drilled into the This socket 35 opens at the inner end of the fuse-head and also cuts through the threaded wall t for the purpose which will presently appear. 40 is an arm or weight loosely resting in theinclined socket 35. This arm or weight L0 is formed with a spherical head 4.0,

which rests in the similarly-shaped upper end of the socket 35. The arm or weight 40 is also formed with a nose or shoulden 40?,

which projects beyond the threaded wall 4 of the fuse-head 3 and engages the inner end of the main fuse-body 2 for loosely confining the arm or Weight 40 in its socket. A pin or rod, projects from the inner free end of the arm or weight 450 and extends at an angle therefrom across the central longitudinal axis of the fuse, where it rests directly above the hammer 7,, The hammer-engaging end of the securingpih 11 is slotted at 11 to allow for the passage and free movement of the hammer-en: gaging pin orrod 4C5. The inner face of the fuse-head 3 is slotted at 3 to receive the ham-' mer engaging pin or rod r5 for the purpose of avoiding interference with the'stroke of the hammer upon the tiring-pin at the moment of impact of the projectile upon the target.

It will be observed that after a shell equipped with my impnbved fuse has left the gun and is rapidly revolving during itsflight the centriiugal. force acting upon the hammer-reitaining arm or weighti tfl will tend to throw the arm or weight outhardly, and thereby move spring-arm 60.

the pin or rodi4=5 to engagement with the hammer 7 w th md or less power, depend- 1 ing upon the rapidity of rotation of the shell duringits flight. 'lfihe hani'mer during the flight of the shell is free'from the restraint of the securing-pin 11 and controlling bolts or V pistons -15, but is'held securely in its seat by the engagement of the pin or rod a5,"projecting from the centrifugally-operated weight 4:0. When the projectile strikes. the target,

Weight 4:0 immediately releases the hammer by reason'of the arresting of the centrifugal action, and the hammer is forced forwardly inthe; socketof the fuse-body into engage- "ment with the firing-pin. thereby detonating the primer and exploding the shelL. When the hammer moves forwardly in its cavity at the impactof the shell, the pin or rod 45 moves into the slot or recess 3, and thereby gets out of the way of' the hammer to expose the firing-pin to the full stroke of the hammer.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have shown a slight modificationinwhich I employ a series of three centrifugally-operated arms or' weights forretaining the hammer in its seat after the securing-pin 11 has been released and during;

the flight of the. shell. In this form of the device the fuse-head? has cut into its inner end the slots 50, which are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the fuse. Loosely supported in these inclined slots are the hammer-retaining arms or weights 51, each one of which .is provided with a retaining-shoulder 51, that is engaged by the inner end of the fuse-body 2, and a hammer-engaging nose 51", which rests between the hammer 7, and the inner end of the hammer-retaining pin 11. The inner adjacent ends of the arms or weights 51 are so shaped that'they will not interfere with each otherin their action. v Alight wire spring 53 is secured at one erld in a socket 54, extending radially into the fuse-head 3, and rests in a groove'55, formed in the under face of one of the arms or weights 51.. A spring 53 is provided for each of the arms or weights 5] The operation of this modified form of .the device ispracticallythe same as in the preferred form above described.

in Fig. 6 l have shown a further slight modification in which a spring-arm is pivoted to the fuse-head 3 at 61 and is supported thereby to move freely in the radial cut or recess 62. A weight 63 is mounted upon the The arm 60 projects across the central longitudinal axis of the fuse, passing through the slotted inner end of the hammer-securing pin 11, and engages the hammer 7.; The centrifugal force acting upon the weight 63 causes the spring-arm 60 to hold. thehammer 7 in its seat during the flight of the shell, substantially as above described in connection with the other forms of the device.

In 7 I show a form of the invention applied to a fuse having a different-shaped hainmr. In this form of the fuse the seat or recess 6 at the end of the hammer containing' the pin or rod t5 oft-he centrifugally-operated I side-acting fuse, so that when the'shell strikes upon one side the sidewise displacement of the hammer will effectively force the firing-pin forwardly to detonate the primer. he securing pin is held in'its locked or hammer-securing position by the same means as above de-- of a fuse-body, and an inertia-operated hamscnibed.

To prevent the ob ectionable displaeing'of the hammer in the cavity of the fuse during 'the flightof the shell, I provide inwardlybowed spring-arms 75, which rest in the longitudinal cuts or recesses 76 of the-hammer and carry the small weights 77. These spring- 'arms 75 engage the fuse-head 3 atone end and the undercut shoulders 7 8 of the hammer at their opposite ends.- During the flight of a shell equipped with this form of fuse it will be clear that the centrifugal force acting upon the weights 7? will tend'to straighten out the spring-arms 75 and hold ,the hammer in its seat against any disturbing force which it may be under the influence of.,

I desire to claim, broadly, a centrifugallyoperated hammer-retaining device forthe purpose above specified. I also desire to claim suchLacentrifugally-operated device in combination with a fuse having a hammer and means fol-automatically releasing the hammer in the fuse-chamber before or during the flight of the shell. I also desire to claim such a'centrifugal ','operated hammer-securing device in combination with ccntr'ifugally-operated means for releasing' the hammer in the fusecasing. i

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

,1. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a fuse-body, and a hammer supported in thcfusc-body, witha hammer-retainingdevice held in engagement with the hammer by centrifugal force, substantially asset forth.

2. Inc. fuse for projectiles, the combination of a fuse-body, and an inertia-operated ham mer movably supported in the fuse-body, with a hammer-retaining device held in engagement with the hammer by centrifugal force for retaining the hammer in its inactive position in the fuse-body during the flight of the projectile, substantially as set forth,

3. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a fuse-body, a primer, 2. firing-pin, and a spherical hammer mounted in the fuse-body and capable of sidewise or forward displacement therein to engage the firing-pin, with automatically-operated means adapted to retain the hammer in its inactive position in the fuse-body during the flight of the projectile, 5

substantially as set forth.

' 4. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of, afus'e-bodj', a primer, a firing-pin, and a spherical hammer supported in the fuse-body and capable of sidewise or forward displace- 7 ment therein to indvetoward the firing-pin, with a hammer-retaining device operated by centrifugal force and adapted to directly engage the hammer and retain it in its inactive position 'during the flight of the projectile,

substantially as set forth.

5. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination mer supported in the fuse-body and capable of side'wise and forward detonating movement 30 therein, with automatically-operated means adapted to retain the hammer in its inactive position inthe fuse-body during the flight of the projectile, substantially as set forth. v

6.' In a fuse for projectiles, the combination 5 of a fuse-body, a primer mounted in the forward or inner end of the fuse-body, a firing- :pin movable longitudinally in the fuse-body,

and a hammer supported in the fuse-body and capable of sideivis e or forward detonating 9 movement, with an automatically-operated; hammer-retaining device engaging the ham" mer and tending to force it rearwardly in the fuse-body to retain the hammer in its inactive position during the flight of the projectile,

substantially as set forth.

71' In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a fuse-body formed witha hammer-receiving cavity and a central concave hammer-seat,

and a hammer movably supported in said cavity and designed to move therein longitudinally or sidewise of the projectile, with'automatically-operated means adapted to retain the hammer in its central rearward position in said concave seat of the fuse-body during 5 the flight of the projectile, substantially as set forth.

8. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a fuse-body. and a-hammer supported in a cavity in the fuse-body and movable forwardly therein, with automatically operated means adapted to engage the hammer and force it backwardly intoits rearward position in the fuse-body and retain it in said position during the flight of the projectile, substantially as set I 5 forth. I i

' In a fuse for projectiles, the combination I 9. of a fuse-body formed with a hammer-receiw' ing cavity having a central concave seat at its rear end, and a hammer supported in the cav- 9 the concave seat during the flight of the projectile, substantially as set forth.

10. In a fuse for projectiles, the combinatlon of a fuse-body, a primer, a firing-pin, and I drones a hammer supported in the fuse-body and adapted to operate the firing-pin by its sidewise or forward displacement in the fusehody, with e hammer-retaining device operated by centrifugal force and adapted to re-i:

' l6. In a fuse lfOKYiPIOJGGtllGS, thecombinatain the hammer-in its inactive position during the flight of the projectile,substantially as set forth. a

11. in fuse for projectiles, the combinetion of n iuse-hodjv, end a hammer movebly in noted in the fuse-body, with a hammerretsining device loosely engaging the hammer end constructed and arranged to be actuated by the centrifugal force to exert upon the hammer a restraining force proportional to 13. in a fuse for pro ectiles, the combinetion of s fuse-body, a hammer movably supported in the fuse-body, means for retaining the hammer in its inactive position while the projectile is at rest, and a centrifugelly-oper ated hammer-retaining device adapted to en; gage the hammer and tend to forcefit rear weirdly into its inactive position during the fright of the ercjeetile, substantially as set forth. i

14 in e-fus e forprojectiles, thecomhine.

tion of efnse-hody, e hammer movahly sup so ted in *hefEuse-horly, and sntcrneticellyie d means-for retaining the-hammer in its 've gaosi ion while the projectile is at rest,

neon with s centrifngeliy-operated hammer-retainmgv device mounted in the fuse-casing and ndepted to directly engage the hammer and tend toforce it rearwerdly into its inactive position during the flight of the projectile,

snbstantislly as set forth.

15. in a fuse for projectiles, the combination of s fuse-body, a'hammer'movably supported in the fuse-body, a hammer-securing pin, and a plurality of centrifugally-relcased devices arranged to lock the securing-pin in hammer-securing position while the projectile is at rest, with centrifngelly-operated hammer-retaining means adapted to engage the hammer and hold it in its inactive position during the flight of the projectile, substantially as set forth.

tion' of a fuse-body, and a hammer movably supported in the'fuse-body, with an arm or weight movably mounted in the fuse-bodvsnd edaptedto heactuatedhy centrifugal for-.ze to engage the hammer and hold it in its inactive position during the flight of the projectile, substantially as set forth, 17. In a fuse for projectiles, the combinetion'of a, fuse-body, and a hammer movably supported in the fuse-body, with a laterallymovable arm or weight freely mounted ins.

recess or cavity in the fuse-body and adapted to be actuated *by centrifugal force to engage the hammer and hold it in its inactive position during the flight of the projectile, substentially as set forth.

18. In a fuse for pro ectiles, the comhination of a fuse-body, and a hammer movably supported in the fuse-body, with a plurality of arms or weights movably mounted in the fuse-body and adapted to be actuated cen- I trifugal force to engage the hammer end retainit in itsinsctive position during theflight of the projectile, substantially as set forth.

19. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a; fuse-body, a hammer movably supported in the fuse-body, with. e spring-arm supported'in the fuse-body and engaging the hammer, ands weight acting upon said springa-rm under v the influence of centrifugal force to cause the spring-arm to retain the hammer in its inactive position during the flight of the projectile, substentially as set forth,

20. in a fuse for pro ectiles, the combination ci e fuse-holly, a hammer movably supported in the'fuse-bodmaprimer, a combined firing-pin end hammer-securing pin, and centrifng'elly -opereted controlling means adapted to normally look said firing and securing pin in its hammer-securing position, with centrifugelly-operated hammer-retaining means adapted tohold the hammer in its inactive position during the flight of the projectile, substantially as set forth HENRY P. MERRIAMI Witnesses J. GREEN, V WM. E. -KNIGHT. I 

